Weekend Edition / Dear Ohad...
Ever feel like you have a million points but still end up in the worst seat on the plane? Like, "Congratulations, you're in 42B—next to a crying baby and a guy who thinks socks are optional"? Yeah, we’re not doing that anymore. LET'S GO 🚀
Dear Ohad…
I just hit a huge signup bonus on my Chase Sapphire Preferred. What’s the best way to turn these points into luxury travel without burning through them too fast?
First off—congrats! Chase Ultimate Rewards points are one of the best travel currencies because they’re flexible and can stretch further than cashing them in for statement credits (don’t do that).
If you’re aiming for maximum value, here’s the playbook:
✈️ Best for Flights: Transfer to Air Canada Aeroplan, Virgin Atlantic (for Delta One deals), or Singapore Airlines for premium cabins. You can also use United MileagePlus for economy redemptions without fuel surcharges.
🏨 Best for Hotels: Hyatt. Period. Chase transfers to Hyatt at 1:1, and their points chart is one of the most generous out there. Think 25,000 points for a $1,000+ Park Hyatt suite.
📇 Pro Tip: If you’re eyeing business class, use point.me to find availability before transferring your points. Once you move them, there’s no take-backs.
Mistakes to Avoid:
❌ Don’t redeem through Chase’s portal unless you have Sapphire Reserve (which boosts points to 1.5x value). Even then, transfers usually win.
❌ Don’t cash out for gift cards or statement credits—it’s like setting money on fire.
If you want to maximize your points even further, email me—I'll make sure you’re flying champagne-class, not middle-seat purgatory.
Dear Ohad…
Which credit card should I be using for everyday spend if I want to build up serious travel rewards?
Depends on your lifestyle, but here’s the short list for top earners:
💎 For General Travel & Dining: Chase Sapphire Reserve (3x points), Amex Gold (4x dining), or Capital One Venture X (2x on everything).
💳 For Big Spenders & Business Owners: Ink Business Preferred (3x on travel & business categories), Amex Business Platinum (for massive spenders who love lounges).
✈ For Airline Loyalists:
- American Airlines: Citi AAdvantage Executive (for lounge access)
- Delta: Amex Platinum (for Sky Club access)
- Southwest: Southwest Priority (for Companion Pass chasers)
🏨 For Hotel Junkies: World of Hyatt (best value), Amex Hilton Aspire (automatic Diamond status), Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant (solid perks).
🪂 Pro Tip: Never put flights on a debit card. Use a premium card that gives trip protections—Chase Sapphire or Amex Platinum cover delays, cancellations, and lost baggage.
Want a personalized strategy? Hit me up.
Dear Ohad…
What’s the best under-the-radar redemption for business class flights?
Oh, I love this question. Right now, one of the sneakiest deals in award travel:
💥 Air France/KLM Flying Blue Promo Rewards 💥
Every month, Flying Blue releases discount awards on certain routes. You can score:
- Business class to Europe for 50K points one-way (compared to 70K+ on most airlines).
- Economy for as low as 11K points—cheaper than a domestic ticket!
- Hidden trick: If you can’t find availability from your home airport, book from a nearby city with availability and grab a cheap positioning flight.
🚀 Pro Tip: Flying Blue is a transfer partner of Amex, Chase, Citi, and Capital One, making it one of the easiest programs to fund.
If you need help pulling this off (or you’re just tired of Googling), shoot me a message.
Need a personalized points strategy? Email me at ohad@upnonstop.com—I’ll turn your points into five-star experiences.
Happy travels,
--Ohad
